NTSB Recommends Alcohol Detection Tech for School Buses

0:00It's April 23rd, this is U.S. News Today, powered by AI, your country, in real time. I'm Cory with the story. The National Transportation Safety Board just dropped a big recommendation. Every new school bus should have alcohol detection tech that shuts down. The engine, if the driver is impaired. This stems from a nasty roll over crash two years ago on a West Virginia highway where a drunk driver sent the bus tumbling, costing one boy his leg. And hurting two other kids bad. Earlier this week, the NTSB highlighted how drunk school bus drivers aren't rare, with over 100 accused nationwide in just five years. They're pushing this now because alcohol caused that wreck. And while drugs are tricky to test, boozed-up drivers are a clear fix with existing tech. Folks in safety circles are calling it overdue, stressing that kids heading to school deserve top protection as our most precious passengers. Just like advocates for highway and auto safety say even small numbers of these cases are too many, though bus owners might fight it like they did.

1:02Seat belts. Data shows school buses are mostly safe out of nearly 1,000 fatal crashes over the last decade, up to 2023, only 100. 13 bus passengers died, most victims were in other vehicles. Still, the NTSB want seat belts mandated and worn to prevent kids from flying around. Small rules or states can make this happen, but Congress needs to step up like they did for cars. It's a small tech tweak, with huge upside for keeping those yellow rides sober and steady.